West Lancashire Golf Club: Course Review, Green Fees, Tee Times and Key Info

They invariably enjoy the test, but few come away from this revered links in any doubt that every aspect of their game has been tested

West Lancashire Golf Club
The links at West Lancashire Golf Club is a more than worthy test of any golfer's game
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)

West Lancashire Golf Club Key Information

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Header Cell - Column 0 Header Cell - Column 1
AddressHall Road West, Blundellsands, Liverpool, L23 8SZ.
Phone Number+44 (0)151 924 1076
Websitewestlancashiregolf.co.uk/
Emailgolf@westlancashiregolf.co.uk
Green Fees£175-£195 per round May to Sept; £140-£160 April
Visitor TimesNo stated restrictions
ParMen: 72 black, white, 71 yellow, 70 blue; Ladies: 74 red, 72 blue
Slope RatingMen: 140 black, 138 white, 135 yellow, 125 blue; Ladies: 140 red, 133 blue
Opened1873
Designed byUnknown, Tom Dunn, Harold Hilton, James Braid
Golf Monthly Verdict

West Lancashire - Hole 13

(Image credit: West Lancashire Golf Club)

West Lancs lies among a concentrated cluster of very fine links golf in the north-west of England. It epitomises British seaside golf with humps, hollows, raised greens and an adjacent railway line.

And it can certainly prove a stern test when the wind is up. Coming home, 12 and 13 stand out, an excellent par 3 where you must clear two deep pot bunkers, then a wonderful dogleg par 4 played from an exposed tee.

REASONS TO PLAY WEST LANCASHIRE

- A proper links test that will test every facet of your game

- Tremendous far-reaching views on a clear day, potentially across to the mountains of north Wales

- Some clever risk-reward holes, including the 7th that may just tempt you downwind

RANKINGS

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 77

This renowned course at Blundellsands north of Liverpool lies among a concentrated cluster making up one of the UK’s finest stretches of links golf from The Wirral up to Southport. It is the oldest club in Lancashire, and one of the ten oldest in England, boasting a history inextricably intertwined with Royal Liverpool’s.

The club started out in 1873, when seven Royal Liverpool members decided golf should cross the Mersey. The two clubs shared memberships in the early years and West Lancs has retained an unchallenged spot in our Top 100 Courses in the UK and Ireland rankings from the outset.

The course has has staged many top events, co-hosting the Amateur Championship in 2009 with Formby. It has also hosted Final Qualifying for several Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and Royal Liverpool Opens.

The holes roll naturally across the superb links terrain, with views of the Mersey Estuary and across to the mountains of Wales.

West Lancs can be as stern a test as you could want when the wind is up, starting from the very first hole. This is a long dogleg right where both the apex of the corner and the narrow green are well-bunkered.

The 3rd, at 159 yards, might appear to offer some respite, but don’t be fooled. It is normally played in a crosswind to a must-hit green surrounded by a swale and four bunkers.

Therein lies the West Lancs challenge, for few holes give anything up willingly, even those that appear to bring hope on the scorecard. The 7th – christened ‘Folly’ - is a case in point, a dogleg right that might tempt long hitters downwind. But as its name suggests, miscues will be severely dealt with, and even if you do get near the tiny green, its steep run-offs may yet deny you that longed-for birdie.

Coming home, the 12th and 13th stand out, first an excellent par 3 where you must take enough club to clear two deep pot bunkers in the front bank. Then a wonderful dogleg par 4 from an exposed tee, where your drive must be both long and far enough right to bring the tiny green into range and view.

West Lancs delivers a sometimes uncompromising yet fair test and epitomises British seaside golf, with humps and hollows, raised greens, coastal dunes and of course, an adjacent railway line.

West Lancashire Golf Club

The 10th hole at West Lancs (Photo: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Rob Fear UK&I Top 100 panel
Rob Fear

There is a consistent links feel throughout, unlike some places which lose it when you move away from the shore. It is a classic links style with occasional glimpses of the sea and shipping.  A high tee at the 13th provides an inviting drive. Linksmen like me will love the variety on offer at West Lancs, mostly played in a testing wind.  Well worthy of inclusion on a tour of the north west.

 

UK&I Top 100 logo
Steve Basford

I always enjoy my visits to West Lancs, a real traditional links. Once again I came away with the feeling that if the last five holes were as good as the first 13 then West Lancs could be 20-25 places higher. But I was impressed with the reduction in severity of the rough that has taken place. It's still penal but there is a little more leeway for errant shots.

 

West Lancashire Golf Club location

West Lancashire Golf Club Green Fees

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Row 0 - Cell 0 RoundDay
May to September 2023 - midweek£175£210
May to September 2023 - weekend£195£230
April 2023 - midweek£140N/A
April 2023 - weekend£160N/A

Book tee-times direct for West Lancashire Golf Club

West Lancashire Golf Club Course Scorecard

West Lancashire Golf Club scorecard

(Image credit: West Lancashire Golf Club)

Best Courses Near West Lancashire Golf Club

FORMBY

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/formby-golf-club-course-review-60545" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">FORMBY
On a coastline packed with top-drawer golf, Formby is one of the very best with the bonus that it contains elements of both links and heathland. A superb and very distinctive combination of styles. Founded in 1884, this forward-thinking club is also future-proofing its original course, which was redesigned by Willie Park Junior in the early 20th-century before further Braid, Colt and Donald Steel changes. 

SOUTHPORT &amp; AINSDALE

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/southport-and-ainsdale-golf-club-course-review-60659" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">SOUTHPORT & AINSDALE
A James Braid course dating from 1925, his design remains largely in place. There’s an eclectic selection of holes delivering an interesting blend of links and heathland – it’s a tough but fair layout. Significant works have been ongoing to make improvements to the course, both from an aesthetic and playing point of view.


Best Places To Stay Near West Lancashire Golf Club

Aberley House, Liverpool -  Book now at Booking.com
Aberley House provides accommodation with free WiFi, BBQ facilities, free bikes and free private parking just 500 yards from Crosby Beach and a couple of miles from West Lancs Golf Club. It offers options for à la carte, continental or full English/Irish breakfasts.

The Royal Hotel, Liverpool - Book now at Booking.com
Overlooking the Mersey Estuary, the Royal Hotel is less than three miles from West Lancs Golf club. It offers en suite bedrooms, free Wi-Fi and free parking plus excellent dining in its Marine View Restaurant. Rooms at The Royal have bathrooms with both baths and showers.

West Lancashire Golf Club Gallery

WEST LANCASHIRE Golf Club HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I

  • 2023/24 - 77
  • 2021/22 - 81
  • 2019/20 - 79
  • 2017/18 - 78
  • 2015/16 - 79
  • 2013/14 - 76
  • 2011/12 - 77
  • 2009/10 - 83

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is West Lancashire Golf Club?

The club, which hit its 150th anniversary in 2023, is located just north of Blundellsands and Great Crosby near the Mersey estuary. Despite its name, strictly speaking it is no longer in Lancashire as the county boundaries currently stand, but rather Merseyside. Aside from the golf club, this area is most famous for Anthony Gormley's 'Another Place' on Crosby beach - 100 lifesize cast-iron sculptures that can be seem from the links.

What is the cheapest way to play West Lancashire Golf Club?

The high-season green fee is £175 midweek and £195 at weekends. A day ticket costs just £35 more in both instances. However, the least expensive way to play West Lancs is to take advantage of the Winter Warmer offer midweek from November to February, when the green fee reduces to £90, or £75pp if you can book a fourball. It also includes coffee and a bacon roll on arrival.

Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response